Police: Bangor man threatened to kill girlfriend

A 32-year-old Bangor man working on a home on Cedar Street in Old Town last week threatened to kill his girlfriend and used several tools to scare her, Old Town police Sgt. Scott Casey said Wednesday.

Someone on Cedar Street called police about a family fight just before 5 p.m. Friday and by the time officers arrived, the 27-year-old female victim, also of Bangor, had gone to the police station to make a report, he said.

The fight between Matthew Spearing and the woman “involved a couple different tools,” Casey said.

Spearing first used a pair of wire cutters to threaten the woman, then “he left and came back with a large rubber mallet,” the sergeant said, adding, “He said he would kill her.

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“The third time he had a metal hammer,” he said. “He smashed the glass stovetop. He pushed her down and got on top of her and there was some hair pulling” and later “he swung the hammer on each side of her,” damaging the floor.

Spearing was charged with felony threatening with a dangerous weapon and felony domestic violence terrorizing, as well as criminal mischief and domestic violence assault.

He was taken to the Penobscot County Jail and since has been released, Casey said.

If Spearing is convicted of either felony charge, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. (Nok-Noi Ricker, BDN)

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An Old Town man who has previous domestic violence convictions was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence assault last week after punching his girlfriend in the face, Old Town police Sgt. Scott Casey said Wednesday.

“He struck her with a closed fist,” he said of the June 17 incident. “It started as an argument and as it escalated to a physical incident she went to call police and she alleges he ripped the phone off the wall.”

For reportedly ripping the phone out of the wall, Willie Zachery, 47, also was charged with obstructing the report of a crime or injury, Casey said.

“He had a previous domestic violence assault conviction and that is why this was a Class C” felony, Casey said.

If Zachary is convicted of the felony domestic violence charge, he could face a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. (Nok-Noi Ricker, BDN)

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The Bangor Police Department cited 81 people for safety belt violations during this summer’s Click It or Ticket campaign, which ran from May 24 to June 6, Sgt. Paul Edwards said in a news release issued Wednesday.

Another 31 people were issued warnings for failure to buckle up during 172 vehicle stops conducted as part of the campaign, he said.

The traffic stops were conducted during 52 hours of overtime detail in support of the 2010 campaign. Bangor police received $2,000 in highway safety grant funds and spent $1,956, Edwards said.

Edwards said the campaign involved single-officer details conducted in several locations in Bangor on different days of the week and at different times of the day. He said the department would continue seat belt enforcement efforts during the second of three statewide safety campaigns that begins in July. (Dawn Gagnon, BDN)